Automobile signal



Oct. 30 1923. 1,472,718

l. G. HOLLAND ET AL ,AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL v Fil'ed Sept. 26 1919 "posed direction of travel. y

Patented @et Y30, 1923.

o IeNA'IIoUs e. HOLLAND AND GEORGE A. BROUGHTON. OFNORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

` Application led September 26, 1919.V Serial No. 326,435.

To all wlw/m t mag/,concern l Be it known ,that we, lIoNMIoUs G. `HOL- LAND and GEORGEA; BnoUGHTomcitizens ot the Unitedv States, residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automobile Signals, oi' which the following is a specification. f v

This invention relates tomiprovements in signals and has for an` object the provision of a Signal, which is especially designed for use upon motor vehicles,r to indicatethe pro- Y Another object of the invention is the provisionof a signal, Vwhich may be rotated t-o indicate or point out the proposed direction oftravehthe said Signa-l being nor- `Inally held against rotation,`but being automatically releasedv so as to permit of such rotation when the signal is operated.

The invention includes novel means for operating the signal, so ythat atteroperation the parts will be returned to normal position `by gravity. n

The invention also includes the novel teatures and details o'construction, to be hereinatter more fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In ytheidrawings: V 4

Figurel is an end diagram showing the position of the signal upon a vehicle', and also showing the wire arrangement.

Figure 2 'is a vertical sectional view through the operating mechanism.` 'f

Figure' 3 isa horizontal sectionalview of the same. l Y

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view.

Referring `to thev drawings in detail, wherein `like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the vehicle isshown by dotted lines and indicated at l0.

The signal is indicated at ll, and may be inthe form of an arrow or other suitable direction indicating element. `4 This signal is mounted upon va casing l2, which is herein Ashown as positioned'upon the radiator offa vehicle,rbut, it is of course evident that t-he signal maybe located at any point `on the vehicle where it may be plainly seen.

The'casi'ng l2 is provided with a removable top 13, which may be held in position by means of screws 14 or other suitable fastening devices. lMounted ,for rotation within the top v13 of the casing is a signal rod l5, to which the signal 1l issecured. This rod operates within a suitable bushing .'16, and is* capable of bothi'rotary and .sliding movement within the said bushing, be- Ingv limitedv in its' verticalfmovement by means ofa 4collar 17.."The lower end of the .rod vl5 is reduced as shown at 18 and'is mounted for rotary and sliding Vmovement within a socketl9 ormed'in lthe block 20;

Mounted vupon the rod l5 is a pinion 2l, which is preferably of mutilated form and is adapted/to engage a transversely disposed horizontallyslidable rac-k bar 22. This rack bar Iis guided in brackets 23, one ot' which i is securedV upon opposite sides ofthe block 20,slots 24 beingr formed in the brackets 23 for the purpose of receivingv the rackbar.

'Each end of the rack bar 22 is provided with a metal disk 25, which forms an armature which is adapted to be attracted by a Vmagnet26 locatedat each end of the casing l2, and ,when one of these magnets is energized, they adjacent armature 25 will be attracted toslide the rack bar 22 and rotate a signal rod l5.' i Y Y f The block20 is beveled upon its upper surface and further provided with an inwardly which operates a` roller28, carried by a bracket 29 secured' to the rod 15,the pur- ITED'STJATES PATENTOFFICE- .or downwardly inclined groove 27, within seated, the rod will be' held against rotation.

Pivotally secured to each of the` brackets 23 as indicated at 3l, is a lever 32, one arm of` these levers engaging beneath the pinion 2l, while their other arms 331 are bent'up-` wardly and are positioned between :the

armature 25 and the core of themagnets 26 to provide a pivoted armature, which desi ned to be attracted by the magnets. hen the arms 33 of the levers 32 are at-y tracted by the magnets, the opposite arms of these levers will be elevatedand engage the pinion` 3l to raise the latter and with it the rod l5. n n bymeans of a 4threaded extension 34',v which Vis engaged bya` nut 35 beneath the casing l2. Ears 36 positioned at eachend ot the, casing provide means for securing the said casing in position. v

Mounted upon the steering wheel 3'?Y` of The block 2O 'is held in position x the vehicle, are oppositely located, switches" or buttons 38, one of these buttons being connected at oneV terminal of Veach of the magnets by conductors 39, the-other term1- nals of the said magnets being grounded as indicated at 40. A suitable source of electric energy herein indicated as battery 41,

lhas one side `connected to each of the switches or buttons 38 by a conductor 42,

while the opposite side of the batteryis grounded is-indicated at A3.

In the operation of the invention, when one of the magnets 26 is energized, the adjacent armatures' 25 and 83 will be. attracted,

the last mentioned armature serving to raise the' signal rod l5 trom engagement with the `socket 30, while the attraction'of thearinaf ture` 25.V will slide the rack bar 311 to rotate Y the rod l and its signal 11, thexsaid signal pointing in a directionfgovernedbythe operation of the particular switch or'button 38 operated.

The invention is susceptible to various "Ti changes in itsforin, proportions, and minor unto appended.

detailsof construction, andthe right is here- Vin reserved to make'such changes as properlygfall within the scope 'of the claims here- Having' described the invention what` is claimed is: i s f l. A signal comprising a vertically movfable rotatably mounted signal operating rod, means for biasing said rod to and holding it in normal intermediate position including a projection on the rod and a depression in which said projection seats, magnets posi- .ftioned upon opposite sides of said rod,

if. if,

^ of said rod by, eitherV of said first named ce armatures movable in a path at right angles to the signalrod and operated by said magnets, means between said rod and armature forv rotating the latter while permitting Yits vertical movement, auxiliary armatures and means between said auxiliary armatures and` said rod i or lifting said vprojectionv from said seat prior vto* the turningof said rodV nets, a horizontally movable rack bar opera- Y tivelyv engaging the rod and supporting the armatures for rotating said rod while pers mitting of its vertical movement, auxiliaryV armatures and means betweensaid auxiliary armatures and said rod for lifting said projection from said yseat prior to the turning armatures.

3. A signalcomprisin a vertically movable rotatably mounted signal operating rod,

means for biasing said rod to and holding it in a normal intermediate position including a proj eotion on the rod anda depression in which said projection seats, magnets positioned upon opposite sides of said rod, armatures movable in a path at right` angles .to the signal rod and operated by said magnets, means between said rod and armature for rotating the. 'latter while permitting of its vertical movement, auxiliary armatures and l pivotally movable .rod engaging larms connectedy to j the 'auxiliary varmatures for liftingsaid projection from its seat prior to'turning said rod by either of the first mentioned armatures;v

4:; VAV signal comprising-avertiically movp able rotatably vmounted signal operating rod,

means for biasing said rod to and'holding it in a normal intermediate positionincludinga. projection on the rod and a depression in which said projection seats, brackets positioned upon vopposite sides of the rod, a horizontally movable rack bar slidable in said brackets, a pinion carried bythe rod i and engaged by therack bar, magnets posi- `tioned upon opposite sides of the rod, an

armature located at each end of the rack bar and operated by said magnets for moving the rack bar at right angles to the rod mitting of its vertical movement, auxiliary `armatures mounted upon the brackets'and means between said auxiliary armatures andl said rod for lifting said projection Jfrom said seat prior' to theV turninglof said rod .by either of the lirst named armatures.

. `5. A signal comprisinga vertically movable rotatably mounted signal operating rod,

means for biasing said rod'to and'holding it in a normal intermediate position including a projection on-the rod and a depression in which said projection seatsv,'brackets positioned upon opposite sides of the rod, a horizontally movable rack bar slidable inf said brackets, a pinion carried .by the rod and engaged bythe rack bar, magnets positioned upon opposite sides of the rod,` an armature located at each end of the rack bar and operated by said magnets for moving the rack bar at right anglesto the rod, whereby the latter willfbe'rotated while per- ;mitting of its vertical movement, an auxiliary armature pivotally mounted upon each of the brackets and located between the irst mentioned armatures and magnets and arms carried by the auxiliary armaturesand engaging the rod' for lifting-said' projection from its seat prior tothe turning of said Vrod byV either of the first named armatures.

In testimony whereof weaix oursignatures. Y A

IeNATioUs e. HOLLAND. GEORGE A. BRoUenroN.-

whereby the latter will be rotated while-per' i 

